Conveyer



Oct'. 15, 1929. l A. PARADISE GONVEYER Filed 061'.. 2l, 1925 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT LOUIS A. PARADISE, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIBTO DEERE 8c COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CONVEYER Application filed October 21, 1925. Scria1 No. 63,837.

My invention relates to conveyers such as are commonly used on threshers, corn pickers, and the like. Such conveyers usually are composed of a pair of endless chains spaced apart and operating over sprocket wheels mounted on shafts at each end of the conveyer, the chains being cross-connected at intervals by wooden slats the ends of which are connected to links of the ch ain. In machines of the type referred to, the conveyer is usually associated with a table or chute along the upper surface of which the slats travel, the product being conveyed being supported by the table as it is moved along by the slats. The distance apart at which theslats are set varies in different machines, and in cases where the slats should .be close together each link of the conveyer chains may have a slat secured to it, but usually the slats are disposed farther apart than the length ofthe links, Aand vin such instances the chains are vgenerally composed of links of different types,'son'1e being standard links while others are designed especially for connection therewith of the ends of the slats. Thegeneral practice is to secure the slats to such links by rivets, and with that construction the power transmittedto the slats by the chain yfor moving the product that is being conveyed is applied directly through the rivets; consequently, in cases where a slat is subjected to unusual strain by reason of carrying an eXtra heavyload, or because of resistance to the progress of the load, the rivet is apt to splitl the slat. If this should occur and ka part of the slat should become loose, it may pass along with the product beingconveyed and into the mechanism with which the conveyer may be associated. For example, in the case ofa threshing machine the broken slat may pass into the thresher cylinder and cause considerable damage. It is therefore highly desirable that in conveyers of this type the crossslats be so connected with the chains as to materially reduce, if not eliminate, the danger of such accidents, and the object-of my rpresent invention is to provide a construction which will accomplish thatend. `I achieve this object as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described. What I regard as new is set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view showing part of one of the conveyer chains with part of one of the cross-slats secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 242 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating my improved chain link which forms the means of attaching the slat to the chain.

Referring to the drawings-#l indicates the ordinary links of a conveyer chain, which links may be of any lstandard design, and 5 indicates my improved link which isof the special design hereinafter described. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown part of a conveyer chain made up of one of the links 5 connected up with several standard links 4, but it will be understood that if de* sired `the chain may be composed entirely of my improved links, or such links may be spaced a greater or less distance apart as circumstances may make advisable. A

My improved link comprises a driving element composed of two approximately Yparallel members 6, 7 connected at one end :by a tubular cross-member 8 the bore of which is indicated by the reference numeral 9, as shown l1n Fig. 3. That end of the link at which the tubular member 8 is located is adapted to lit between'the side members of the next adjoining link of the chain, as shown for `example in Fig. 1, in which it fits between the side members 10, 11 of one of the links 4. The bore 9 is adapted to receive a link pin 12 which passes therethrough and through ,suitable holes in the ends of the members 10, 11 inthe usual way. Preferably an oil hole 13 is provided for the admission of oil to the pin 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The opposite ends ofthe side members 6, 7 are provided with alined holes 14, 15 bored correspondingly with the holes in the members' 10, 11, and the separated ends of the members 6, 7 lare spaced far enough apart to receive between them the opposite end of acorresponding link or of one of the links l which, as shown in Fig. 1, are provided with tubular portions 16. Fromthe foregoing it will be understood that the members 6, 7 diverge somewhat toward their separated ends so that the opposite end of the link is narrow enough to be iitted to an adjoining link in the manner described.

r1`he upper marginal portions of the members 6, 7 are connected by a liat plate 17 which is integral therewith, and extends over the intermediate portion of the link, and beyond the inner side margin thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that it lorms an extended support for the end portion oit a cross-Slat 18. These cross-slats are usually made rectangular in cross-section, and therefore the lower surface oit the slat rests squarely on the upper suritace of the plate 17, to which it is secured preferably by a rivet 19 which passes vertically through the slat and through said plate, as

shown in Fig. 2. 1t will be understood, of course, that two of the above described chains are used, and that they are provided with similarly located links 5 so that the several cross-slats 18 have their ends similarly cured to the two chains.

1n order that the power transmitted to the cross-slats by the chains shall not be trans mitted through the rivets 19, which as has been explained would tend to cause splitting of the slats, I provide the links 5 with pockets arranged to receive the ends of the slats telescopically. This is accomplished by providing said links with side walls 20, 21 at the opposite transverse margins of the plate 17 which constitutes the bottom ot the pocket. These side walls rise from the plate 17, and at their upper ends are provided with securing means in the 'forms of lips 22, 23, respectively, which are bent toward each other so that they lie substantially in a plane parallel with the plate 17, thus forming a rectangular pocket. Preferably the lower portions ot the side walls 20, 21 extend the full length of the plate 17, but the lips 22, 23 are made somewhat narrower, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby reducing the weight o'l the link. This locates the greater part of the pocket beyond the inner margin of the link, and leaves the extreme end of the slat exposed from above,so that it can easily be riveted to the plate 17. The dimensions of the pocket are such that it is adapted to receive the end of the cross-slat snugly, and after the slat has been put in place the lips 22, 23 may be bent down to engage the slat closely, thereby holding it firmly even though the rivet 19 should become loose.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lips 22, 23 are not connected with each other, which arrangement is to accommodate the variations that occurin the size ot the slats.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the end portions oi2 the slats are substantially surrounded by the side walls 20, 21 and lips 22, 23, which are integral with the driving members G, 7 of the link. Cerise quently, the driving power is not transmitted to the slats by the rivets 19, and there is no danger of splitting on that account. Furthermore, the pockets hold the slats firmly enough so that'even though they should split from other causes, or should be broken at some intermediate point, the end portions of the slats would nevertheless be held by the links to which they were connected, and therefore would not be carried into the machinery. The use of the rivets is desirable to aid in holding the slats against endwise movement and also in holding the ends of a broken slat in the pockets, but the use of the rivets is not essential as other means could be employed for holding the slats against endwise movement, such, for instance, as bending the lips 22, 23 down iar enough to cause them to be embedded in the slats, or to engage recesses in them provided for that purpose. While 1 prefer to provide each of the side walls with,

lips 22, 23, my invention also contemplates providing only one oit such side walls with a lip.

What l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patents, is-

1. An endless conveyer comprising parallel chains, and cross-slats connecting said chains, each of said chains having links composed of spaced members provided with a box-like pocket at their upper sides, each ot said pockets being composed of a transverse plate integral with said members, on which the slat rests, side walls rising from said plate, and lips extending trom the upper margins of said sidewalls inwardly over the slat.

2. A chain linkv comprising a driving element adapted for connection with adjoining links, said driving element havinga pocket at its upper side adapted to receive the end ot a cross-Slat, said pocket comprising transversely disposed rigid side walls rising from said driving element, and a horizontally disposed bendable lip extending from the upper margin oi" one ot' said side walls over said pocket. Y

3. A chain link comprising a driving element composed of spaced members connected together at one end and adapted to be connected with adjoining links, a pocket at the upper side ot said members and integral therewith, said pocket comprising a bottom plate connecting said members, and transversely disposed side walls rising from said bottom plate provided with downwardly bendable securing means extending over the pocket.

t. An endless conveyer comprising parallel chains, cross-slats connecting said chains, and means l'or securing said cross-slats to'said chains, each of said chains having links composed o't spaced members provided with a box-like pocket at their upperl sides, each of said pockets being composed ot a transverse plate integral with said members, on which the slat rests, side walls rising from said plate,

and lips extending from the upper margins of the inner portions of said side Walls inwardly over the slat, leaving the outer p0rtion between said side Walls open for receiving the means for securing said slat to said transverse plate.

5. A chain link comprising a driving element adapted for connection With adjoining links, said driving element having a pocket at its upper side adapted to receive the end of a cross-Slat, means for securing the end of Said slat in said pocket, saidl pocket comprising transversely disposed rigid side Walls rising from said driving element, and a horizontally disposed bendable lip extending from the upper margin of the inner portion of one of said side Walls over said pocket, leaving the outer portion between said .side Walls open for receiving the means for securing said slat in said pocket.

LOUIS A. PARADSE. 

